Chronic Hiccups

Hiccups happen when your diaphragm contracts involuntarily, which is also known as a spasm.

The diaphragm is a muscle that helps you breathe. It’s located between your chest and your abdomen.

After the involuntary contraction, your vocal cords will rapidly shut. This is what causes the sound that comes with hiccups.

For most people, hiccups usually last a few minutes and are not a medical concern. However, if your hiccups last longer than two days, they’re considered chronic. They’re also referred to as persistent if they last over two days, but end within one month.

If you have multiple recurring episodes of hiccups over prolonged periods of time, this is also considered chronic hiccups.

Chronic hiccups can last for years in some people and are usually a sign of a medical issue. They can also cause health issues themselves.

You may experience exhaustion when they keep you awake most nights. Chronic hiccups can also lead to severe weight loss because they can affect your appetite or desire to eat.

Chronic hiccups are very rare, but they tend to happen more often in men than in women. Other people who may have a higher risk of getting chronic hiccups include those who:

There are many things believed to cause hiccups, but the cause of chronic hiccups isn’t always known. The cause may also take an extended period of time to discover.

The following are just some of the possible causes:

recent abdominal surgery

general anesthesia

diseases of the esophagus, stomach, intestines, kidneys, or liver

cancer tumors

brain or spinal cord lesions

brainstem seizures

pneumonia

irritation of the nerves that control breathing

Related conditions

Conditions that are related to chronic hiccups may include any medical or health issue that involves the autonomic nervous system. This is the system which controls your body’s unconscious actions, like breathing, heartbeat, and digestive tract functions.

While one-time or occasional hiccups are common and resolve quickly, chronic hiccups are very rare and more difficult to treat.

It’s important that you see a medical professional if you have hiccups that last more than two days or you’ve had multiple hiccup episodes that are occurring more frequently over time, as they could be a symptom of a serious medical condition.

Even if the cause is not found, chronic hiccups alone can diminish your quality of life as well as your health if they’re not treated.

Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, DO on November 6, 2018 — Written by Diana K. Wells